Oct. 14-31: Kid-Friendly Fall & Halloween Fun in St. Augustine

NOT-SO-SCARY RYPE & READI

Sunday, Oct. 15: A not-so-scary evening from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15 at Rype & Readi Downtown Market, 115 La Quinta Place, St. Augustine. This is for ages 9 and younger. Trick-or-Treat opportunity to tour through the barn with NO SCARING! Just laughs and treats. Principally to benefit local food banks, Ages 9 and up are welcome to join in the fun for the price of only $5 and 3 canned good donations for Shepherd’s Haven of Hastings Food Bank and the Salvation Army. Price will be $10 if no can donations are offered. Help us fill the pantry this Halloween! Call 904-429-3070 or go to www.rypeandreadi.com

CORN MAZE & MORE

Oct. 7-29: Nine acres of a local farm becomes Sykes & Cooper Corn Maze each year — the maze, hayrides, food and games, live animals and more at 5995 Brough Road in Elkton, off State Road 207. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $10 for ages 3 to 64; $8 for seniors and military with ID; and free for ages 2 and younger. Admission is CASH ONLY. Homeschool Day set for Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Live music will be offered from 7 to 10 p.m. on certain Saturday nights. Go to www.sycofarms.com for more details.

ST. AUGUSTINE GREEK FESTIVAL

Oct. 13-15: The St. Augustine Greek Festival celebrates all things Greek — food, music, dancing and heritage. The annual event is held at Francis Field, 29 W. Castillo Drive, downtown St. Augustine. Live music will be on stage throughout the weekend, with dance performances, a dance floor for the public, an outdoor marketplace, children’s activities and more. Admission is $5 for adults, and children age 14 and younger are admitted free with paying adults. Free admission for active military and first responders. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15. Go to www.stauggreekfest.com for more details.

ST. AUGUSTINE CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL

Oct. 15: Mark your calendars and bring the kids to FOSAA’s Fourth Annual Children’s Arts Festival, Sunday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. This is a free event and is open to the public!
Artists and organizations have donated their time and talents to make this an incredibly exciting day of interactive arts activities. Children can sing, dance, play instruments, engage in a variety of art projects, make a puppet, tell stories, play theatre games, frolic with pirates, learn magic tricks, get a library card, join a drum circle, and lots, lots more. Area organizations with information for families, and a select group of non-food vendors will also be on hand. Concession stands will be open all day. FOSAA (Friends of the St Augustine Amphitheatre) is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing usage of the Amphitheatre by the community. FOSAA sponsors two summer music and arts camps, performances and special projects for children. FOSAA also awards grants to schools and non-profits who wish to use the Amphitheatre for their own events. For further information please email Carol Gladstone, grambini1@comcast.net

LITTLE STARS FALL DRAMA CLASSES

Oct. 18-Nov.22: Limelight Theatre’s KidzfACTory program offers fall-themed drama classes for preschool children ages 3&4 years old at from 10-10:45 a.m. every Wednesday. Limelight is located at 11 Old Mission Ave., uptown St. Augustine. Drop-in rate is $10. Go to limelight-theatre.org or call 904-825-1164.

58th ANNUAL CRACKER DAY

Oct. 21: The St. Johns County Cattlemen’s Association hosts this day of horse games, food, and fun at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, 5840 State Road 207, in Elkton. Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to compete in or watch horse games, and enjoy barbeque and other great food provided by our vendors. Children are welcome. Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Cost is $5 per car charged at the gate, cash only.

OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL FALL FESTIV’ALL

Oct. 22: Our Lady of Good Counsel will hold the annual Fall Festiv’All & Car Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 22 at the church, 5950 SR 16
St. Augustine, in the World Golf Village area. A pumpkin patch, games and inflatables, a country store, food, beer and wine, live music, a 50/50 raffle, and other fall fun will be part of this event. To enter the car show, click here.

THE WIZARD OF OZ

Oct. 27-29: The Wizard of Oz will be presented by KidzfACTory students at Limelight Theatre. This classic tale, in which a Kansas farm girl travels over the rainbow to discover the magical power of home, has been entertaining audiences for generations. Tickets will be available in September at limelight-theatre.org. Students can enroll online here. Call 904-825-1164 for more details.

KIDS SPOOKY HAUNTED HOUSE

Oct. 27: **WARNING: THIS MAY BE TOO SCARY FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. A Haunted House will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 at City One Design Gallery, 3705 Old Lewis Speedway. From the Facebook event: We are doing this strictly for children to have a good time and to be able to experience the scary side of Halloween. The admission is FREE of charge to everyone who choices to come. We hope to see a lot of people there. If we have a good turn out we may open it Halloween night!!

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

Oct. 27-29: The St. Augustine Alligator Farm will hold Creatures of the Night from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 27-29 with trick-or-treating and animal encounters. Wear costumes and join the wild fun! Cost is $8 for children 2-11, and $10 for adults. Go to alligatorfarm.com

ANCIENT CITY KIDS DAY

Oct. 28: The 21st Annual Ancient City Kids Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Francis Field , 29 W. Castillo Drive, downtown St. Augustine. The event is FREE for the public, and will include over 40 youth service agencies offering carnival style games and activities, arts and crafts, contests for kids, and live entertainment all day. Information about community resources will be available for parents. The only cost to the public will be for food or drinks. The event is a community outreach for Epic Behavioral Healthcare of St. Augustine. Go to epicbh.org

VETERANS DAY PARADE

Nov. 11: The annual Veterans Day parade will begin at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 along Avenida Menendez in downtown St. Augustine. Arrive early to find parking and get a spot. Bring chairs and blankets for seating. Admission is FREE.

FLORIDA TINY HOUSE FESTIVAL

Nov. 17-19: The 2nd Annual Florida Tiny House Festival will be held at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, 5480 State Road 207, in Elkton. There will be a large assortment of tiny houses and micro homes, workshops, presentations, vendors, live entertainment, children’s activities, and more. The 2017 Florida Tiny House Festival is a charitable event with proceeds going to charities, non-profits, and the local community. Nov. 17 offers free admission from 5-8 p.m. for everyone, with free admission every day for Active & Retired Military, Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters and EMTs. Half off admission for ages 60 and older. Tickets and camping reservations are all available online at www.unitedtinyhouse.com/ shop/

NIGHTS OF LIGHTS

Nov. 18-Jan. 31: The 23rd Annual Nights of Lights opens on Saturday, Nov. 18 during Light-Up Night, an event that includes live music in the Plaza de la Constitucion, between King Street and Cathedral Place in downtown St. Augustine. The music will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the lighting ceremony will start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. Each year, former St. Augustine mayors gather to flip the switch during Light Up Night. The City of St. Augustine’s giant tree in the Plaza is lit first, then all the lights come on surrounding the area. Many families start the holiday season with this tradition — going to dinner downtown and and then watching as the lights are turned on. Nights of Lights, which includes more than 2 million lights on city buildings and businesses, continues through Jan. 31, 2016. Go to nightsoflights.com

TOUR DE FARM

Nov. 19: Tour area farms from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19. This annual event is sponsored by Slow Food First Coast. The tour celebrates local farms and local food and drink makers who maintain a commitment to good, clean, fair food for all. Visitors will be given the opportunity to spend a day on-site at multiple local farms throughout Northeast Florida, meeting farmers, chefs and artisan makers. You are invited to ask questions about food and farming and taste samples prepared by local chefs with local provisions. The Tour welcomes anyone with an interest in food production, farm operations, food sourcing and food advocacy to join the festivities.
To participate in the 2017 Tour de Farm, visitors are required to purchase a one-day car pass, which grants access to every farm registered and open for the Tour. The Car Pass is $20.00 which can be found here: https://www.slowfoodfirstcoast.org/tour-de-farm/

PUMPKIN PATCHES

First United Methodist Church

Opening Sept. 28: First United Methodist Church, 118 King St., offers pumpkins of all sizes, available this month in downtown St. Augustine. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Prices range from 50 cents to $35. Call 904-829-3459.

Rype & Readi Farm Market

September and October: Pumpkins, squash and gourds of all shapes and sizes are available at Rype and Readi, 115 La Quinta Place, off Riberia St., in downtown St. Augustine. Heirloom pumpkin varieties, baking pumpkins and squash, ornamental gourds, and carving pumpkins are on site. Call 904-429-3070, go to www.rypeandreadi.com, or stay updated on facebook.

River of Life United Methodist Church

Oct. 1-31: The pumpkins have arrived at River of Life United Methodist Church, 2600 Race Track Road, in the Julington Creek area. A portion of proceeds from pumpkin patch sales benefit the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home and other ministries in the church each year. The patch is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Call 904-230-2955 or go to www.rolumc.com

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Oct. 1-31: The patch is open at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 5950 State Road 16. Hours are 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes will share the patch with free hayrides, photo ops and ghostly spooks until Halloween. Proceeds benefit the church’s ministries. Call 904-824-8688 or go to olgc-church.org

Shores United Methodist Church

The pumpkins will arrive Oct. 7 at Shores United Methodist Church, 724 Shores Blvd. Pumpkin prices vary depending on size of the pumpkin. Patch hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sundays, with weekdays hours from 2 to 7 p.m. Call 904-797-4416 or go to www.shoresumc.org.

Corn Maze & More

Oct. 7-29: Nine acres of a local farm becomes Sykes & Cooper Corn Maze each year — with live music, the maze, games such as a corn cannon, live animals and more at 5995 Brough Road in Elkton, just off State Road 207. Hours are 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Cost is $10 for ages 3 to 64; $7 for seniors and military with ID; and free for ages 2 and younger. Admission is CASH ONLY. Live music will be offered from 7 to 10 p.m. on certain Saturday nights. Go to www.sycofarms.com for more details.